Q. How am I protected in mediation?

A. We require full disclosure, which is the law in California. You will make decisions only after reviewing the facts and discussing a variety of options. You will show your agreement to an outside attorney before making a final decision. You won't sign anything until you are convinced that it is in your best interest to do so. You will have assistance from us all along the way in analyzing your options and making wise choices.

Q. How long does a mediation take?

A. That depends on whether you are mediating a prenup or a divorce. Either way, each session usually takes about two hours. The number of sessions ranges from two to eight, with prenups tending to take two sessions and most divorces taking five or six, depending on the complexity of the issues and the readiness of each of the spouses to get a divorce. Control over how long it takes is in your hands. Couples who complete their financial disclosure forms right away typically move ahead quickly.

Q. When should we start mediation?

A. If it's a prenup, start a couple of months before your wedding, so that the agreement will be done at least one month before your wedding date. Most people getting a divorce start as soon as they know that they want a divorce or separation.

Q. What should we do if we are not 100% sure that we want a divorce?

A. Some couples come to us wishing that they could find a way to stay married. If your first choice is to stay married, but you think that divorce may be inevitable, we can help you design a 2-part agreement, called the "Marriage-or-Divorce Agreement. We find that couples who enter into this agreement usually stay married. What makes the difference and seems to be a key factor in making a marriage successful is getting marital rights and responsibilities clarified and then memorialized writing.

Q. What if my spouse or fiance is hesitant to try mediation?

A. Ask him or her to give us a call, so that we can explain the mediation process and answer any questions. (800.748.6462)

Q. Do you offer a free initial consultation?

A. We are happy to talk with each of you on the phone ahead of time, so that all of us can decide if we want to work together. We do not offer a free consultation in our office.

Q. What does it cost?

A. Our fee is $360 an hour for the two of us, payable at the end of each session. Payments may be made by check, MasterCard, or Visa. We do not take a retainer or send you bills.

For divorcing couples, once all the necessary agreements are reached, we charge a $3,000 flat fee, which pays for the completion of all court documents, a first and a revised draft of the Marital Settlement Agreement, the signing session, and other work we do between sessions, all of which amounts to about ten hours of behind-the-scenes work on our part.

For couples getting prenups or Marriage-or-Divorce Agreements, we estimate the time that the drafting will take at the first session, once we know more about the issues that will be involved.

The cost of a divorce mediation at Coast To Coast usually ranges from $6,500 to $7,500. The cost of a prenup is about half of that.

Q. What do we need to bring to the first session?

A. Nothing. You will fill out financial disclosures between the first and second sessions, but don't need to bring any information to the first meeting.

Q. How do I get an appointment?

A. Send us an e-mail at staff@ctcmediation.com. We can usually set up an appointment within a week of your call.